As I reflect on my reflection,
I can't help but think I'm forgetting something.
Another year,
another birthday,
another love.

But what am I forgetting?

I climbed to new heights,
fell to new lows.
Crawled with crippled arms,
and even fought to stay standing.
Sometimes I was successful,
sometimes I wasn't.

But still,
what am I forgetting?

I made new friends,
lost old ones,
laughed at jokes,
and even cried when I watched "The Boy In The Striped Pajamas".
I felt feelings that honestly,
I had never felt before.

I climbed mountains,
and scaled walls.
I built bridges,
then burned them down,
only to come back,
and build them up again.

And yet I still ask myself,
what am I forgetting?

I gambled,
and beat the odds.
I gambled,
and lost.
Like when I put down twenty dollars on the record high Powerball,
and didn't get any numbers right.

But what of all things am I forgetting?

As I reflect on my reflection,
and ponder upon the year,
I remember,
I'm one year stronger,
one birthday stronger,
one love stronger.

I'm not a new man,
I never will be,
I will always be me.
But I can always get stronger,
and I always will.

I enjoy the company of words that fill me with JOY.
They may not have life but, immerse you in the sea of life.

By - *Venkat Raghavan

I'm isolated, suffocated

I can't see straight cause I'm asphyxiated.

Gasping with nothing but space and air

Who thought a surplus of something would leave you dying here.

I stand. I collapse.

I'm begging for any kind of relapse.

I need a pulse a grain of life

Because monotone affection won't suffice.

I clench and grit to voices I've heard.

They're telling me a sercret to a cure.

Not that I'm sick, I suffer from health,

Not that I'm poor, I'm drowning in wealth.

I'm loved but subistitued with nothing that lives.

I'm adored but replaced with nothing that gives.

So what gives?

It took three hits to pull you off.

It took even more to fall from the top.

I'm craving a hit, I'm itching for haze.

I've been fantisizing a joint in my hand for days.

I don't want to be hostile, I'm trying to be chill

But with the large amount of air I've finally had my fill.

I want to cough and hack and fill the burn

And maybe after I'm gone I won't feel the need to return.

I see your face and I've thought on our time

And right now I'd rather be harsh than to always be kind.

You'll throw it down but I'll pick it up

You'll throw the punch but I'll take the touch.

You're the kind of boy who needs to do what he's told

You're not a man when you're acting 5 years old.

She said you can't talk and she said you can't speak

I don't think you're respecting her but I think you're just weak.

And when you're done with her you'll just find another.

You don't want an equal partner you just want a mother.

And you're grabbing your sack as if you have something to show

Well, I've been there and done that and you still have to go.

Your name is a joke

You're made to choke.

The man card that you have in your pocket has been revoked.

And you're standing all tall like you have something to say

I dare you to tell me something I haven't heard anyways.

Trying to treat me like I'm the one who got away

Telling me that what's-her-name doesn't have what I take.

And boy I took it from you

You gave me the "what to do",

I've seen you cry and moan and bleed like they were mistreating you.

And I'll admit and take blame that I kept taking you back,

Cause back then it was me who didin't have the ***** that you lacked.

Finding excuses

And allowing misuses.

Trying to repair the leak from your loose lips.

Cause you have it bad like I had it good.

Living in style but acting like you're from the hood.

Trying so hard to just live it down.

Well you got what you wanted cause that girl rode you to the ground.

And now I'm up river and a couple of oceans from your mess

And I'm still watching you call out like a spoiled kid in distress.

Acting all tough like you've seen the other side of life

Throwing out curses like you're suffered so much strife.

Thinking that it's everyone else you have to fight,

But the joke's on you cause you're the only one who proved everyone right.

And I'm tired of this talk, as if you found the light,

Well that's my tail lights you see leaving you, out of sight.

And I'm probably sour cause I made a choice

But now it's left me nothing as much as a voice.

And I'll probably sit all resentful with greed,

But it always makes me laugh that you're doing just the same as me.

Just kidding.

splendid wings of courage
that negotiate with
the wind somehow
still paint
the sky
in some shade of blue

bring
bring me Lord
to this  
River of Light
where thy soul
be quenched
with your holy words
through this night
bring me Lord
to this
River of Light

The Day

It was the day
That we said hello
I realized I never wanted to say goodbye

I looked into your eyes
That one time
And felt a connection inside

As I sit here
Writing this poem, about you
I miss you, with hope and love
That you feel the same way too


The Realization

We spent time
Got to know each other,
Feel in love
Then realized,

Maybe we took too little time
To get to know each other,
Learn about what’s important to each other

For the future


The Future

Now we’re stuck
One way or another,
With each other

At least for now
In this space and time
Waiting, hoping

Wondering, if the choices we made were right
If they will bring pain
If they will bring joy